UBC courses related to disasters and disaster resilience | 2025-26

No prerequisites. The application of methods from biological anthropology and archaeology to the identification, recovery, and analysis of skeletal remains from crime scenes, mass disasters, and unexplained deaths.

This course examines the poetics and politics of representing and exhibiting cultures and societal issues, including the representation of disasters within museums, with focus on the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Takes a decolonizing approach to disaster studies to consider how past and present disasters in British Columbia (such as forest fires, epidemics, and earthquakes) are not simply sudden-onset events, but are coordinated by settler colonialism, capitalism, climate change, and local and transnational slow violence. Counts toward the Arts Place and Power requirement.

This course covers the approaches engineers use to estimate hazard (intensity of shaking) from an earthquake. This course is geared toward an engineering perspective and not geologic or seismology. There are no prerequisites, but there is base information about earthquake engineering design which is built upon.

Response of structures to earthquakes; concept of ductility; understanding and applications of seismic design codes for buildings; quasi-static, modal, and nonlinear analyses; modelling of structures; design of structures using energy dissipation devices.

Nonlinear behavior and modeling of steel structures; plastic analysis of steel structures; seismic design of steel buildings. 

No prerequisites. 

Simulation and risk analysis; decision-making under uncertainty; methods to identify, value and implement flexibility in civil engineering systems design; applications to multiple civil engineering disciplines.

Sampling; investigations; fate and transport of chemicals in soil, water, sediment, biota and air; exposure pathways assessment and toxicological principles for receptors; risk-based approach to site remediation, treatment and control technologies. 

Introduction to climate change through the lens of local landscapes and future scenarios, using visual media to communicate the underlying science & psychology, and engage communities in local climate change solutions.

Traditional fertility and mortality patterns, demographic transition, catastrophes, well-being and nutrition, international and internal migration, epidemics and growth spurts.

The causes, physical characteristics, and consequences of natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, severe weather, landslides, tsunamis, floods, meteor impact, and mass extinctions.

Mechanisms of anthropogenic climate change and its impact on the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, and oceans since the Industrial Revolution. Use of computer models to forecast 21st century climate changes. Prerequisite: One of GEOG 108, GEOG 200, EESC 212. Third-year standing. Equivalency: GEOG 304

Legal, administrative and project management aspects of environmental impact assessment (EIA). EIA regulations, processes and systems. Assessment approaches and methods for cumulative effects, social/economic impacts, strategic and regional assessment, risk assessment and public participation. Canadian federal, territorial and provincial EIA systems. Credit will be granted for only one of GEOG 314 or EESC 314. Prerequisite: Either (a) 6 credits of EESC or (b) 6 credits of GEOG. Third-year standing. Equivalency: EESC314

Applied probability and simulation for civil engineering infrastructure. Methods for probabilistic risk and reliability analysis. Risk-based decision making. Prerequisite: APSC 254. Corequisite: APSC 258

Strong ground motion; single-degree-of-freedom systems; earthquake response of linear and inelastic systems; subspace iteration; multi-degree-of-freedom systems; earthquake response and design; building design consideration.

Impact of climate change, integrated asset management, resilient infrastructure, condition assessment and performance modeling, in-service monitoring and risk-based evaluation, life cycle cost and benefits analysis, prioritization and optimization, advanced modellling and GIS implementation.

3 credits. Mechanical properties of intact rock. Rock mass properties and classifications. Structural mapping and stereonets. Rock and rock mass strength criteria. Stresses in rock masses. Rock slope stability analysis. Empirical, analytical, and numerical analysis techniques for underground excavations. Rock support and stabilization. Credit will be granted for only one of ENGR 438 or ENGR 538. [3-2*-0] This course also covers landslide, rockfall, and debris flow hazard assessment and mitigation.
Prerequisite: ENGR 340.

Review of structural dynamics and response spectra; seismic design of steel and masonry buildings; seismic design of reinforced concrete structures; design using simplified code procedures and computer tools. Course prerequisites would be typical structural engineering courses provided in a Civil engineering curriculum.

Climates over the geological, historical and instrument periods. Theories of climatic change. Monitoring and modelling the climate system. Impacts of change on environmental and socio-economic systems. Credit will be granted for only one of ENST 312 or GEOG 312. Recommended pre-requisites: one of GEOS 102, GEOB 102, GEOS 200, GEOB 200, GEOS 204, GEOB 204, ATSC 201, EOSC 112 and 3rd year standing. Equivalency: GEOG 312

Concepts and techniques employed in environmental research; challenges in the areas of climate change, water use, knowledge translation and natural hazards. Credit will be granted for only one of GEOG 314 or ENST 314.

No prerequisites. This introductory course covers Earth's origin, structure, plate tectonics, and natural resources. Lecture topics include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and BC's geologic hazards.

No prerequisites. This introductory course explores the causes and physical characteristics of disasters such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, storm surge, thunderstorms, tornadoes, landslides, wind waves, meteor impacts, mass extinctions.

Mechanisms and processes of past and future global climate change. Climate models and projected impacts. Climate solutions including carbon sequestration, adaptation and geoengineering. [3-0-0] Prerequisite: Either (a) SCIE 001 or (b) one of CHEM 110, CHEM 111, CHEM 120, CHEM 121, CHEM 141, CHEM 154 and one of MATH 101, MATH 103, MATH 105, MATH 121 and one of PHYS 101, PHYS 106, PHYS 107, PHYS 117, PHYS 131, PHYS 153, PHYS 157.

Special topics course.

Ecological effects of fire and climatic (wind, temperature, and snow) disturbances; fire danger rating, principles of fire management and prescribed fire use; windthrow risk modelling and management. Prerequisite: One of FRST 210, NRES 210 and one of FRST 211, NRES 211.

Theory and evolution of adaptation at different scales in organizations and resource management systems, utilizing existing case studies, examining opportunities and barriers to adaptation, considering strategies and practices to manage climate impacts and risks.

Science, impacts, and parallel crises of the climate emergency; decarbonization challenge and measuring progress towards emission targets; strategies and tools for climate action at local, national, and global levels.

Critical exploration of climate change as a physical, social, cultural and political challenge. Approaches major climate change themes of knowledge, causes, impacts, responses and governance from a human geography perspective. Emphasizes critical thinking, local-global connections and social justice.

Concepts and debates in the interdisciplinary field and practice of climate justice; the role of systemic processes and patterns underlying climate change and climate injustices.

Mechanisms of anthropogenic climate change and its impact on the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, and oceans since the Industrial Revolution. Use of computer models to forecast 21st century climate changes. Prerequisite: One of GEOG 108, GEOG 200, EESC 212. Third-year standing. Equivalency: GEOG 304

Climates over the geological, historical and instrument periods. Theories of climatic change. Monitoring and modelling the climate system. Impacts of change on environmental and socio-economic systems. Credit will be granted for only one of ENST 312 or GEOG 312.

Legal, administrative and project management aspects of environmental impact assessment (EIA). EIA regulations, processes and systems. Assessment approaches and methods for cumulative effects, social/economic impacts, strategic and regional assessment, risk assessment and public participation. Canadian federal, territorial and provincial EIA systems. Credit will be granted for only one of GEOG 314 or EESC 314. Prerequisite: Either (a) 6 credits of EESC or (b) 6 credits of GEOG. Third-year standing. Equivalency: EESC314

Concepts and techniques employed in environmental research; challenges in the areas of climate change, water use, knowledge translation and natural hazards. Credit will be granted for only one of GEOG 314 or ENST 314.

The role of geophysical events, human ecology, environmental perception, world social and political order in explaining the risk of natural disasters. Assessment of acceptable risk, disaster relief and reconstruction and contrasts between developed and developing nations

Introduction to community planning using key theoretical frameworks and strategies to enhance community resilience in the face of rapid urbanisation and unpredictable disruptions. Examination of case studies, policies and urban planning tools to address challenges such as disaster preparedness [3-0-0]. Prerequisite: GEOG_O 128 and third-year standing.

This course focuses on literary representations of "collective trauma" as a "blow to the basic tissues of social life that damages the bonds attaching people together and impairs the prevailing sense of community" (Kai Erikson). How was post World-War II German society affected by the traumas of the Second World War, the Cold War division of Germany, and the increasing dangers posed by environmental pollution and possible nuclear catastrophe? What coping mechanisms did individuals employ to facilitate their own physical and emotional survival in a damaged social organism? Authors discussed include Wolfgang Borchert, Elisabeth Langgässer, Günther Weisenborn, Gudrun Pausewang, and more. This course is taught in German. Language prerequisite: GERM 210 or GERN 202.

An interdisciplinary and cross-cultural overview of contemporary environmental issues, as they relate to gender equality and social justice challenges and initiatives that respond to ecological crises.

Part of Haida Gwaii semester. Theory of social-ecological resilience as applied to cross-cultural community settings, using case studies from communities on Haida Gwaii and other exceptional cases of community resilience.

Part of Haida Gwaii semester. An exploration of language as a means of looking at culture, and cultural continuity. Using Xaad Kilthe Haida language as a framing device, students will explore the integral connections between language, culture, history, land, health and resilience.

Part of Haida Gwaii semester. An examination of the challenges and opportunities of developing and diversifying resilient resource dependent cross-cultural, rural communities using Haida Gwaii's comprehensive community planning as a case study.

Human health impacts of the current and projected environmental crisis; study of key concepts and ideas to prepare for the future to promote wellbeing of individuals, communities and populations.

Moral problems arising in the context of human relationships to nature and non-human living things, in terms of both general moral theory and policy formation. Moral standing, animal rights, obligations to future generations, pollution, hazardous materials, depletion of natural resources, treatment of non-human living things.

Moral problems arising in the context of human relationships to nature and non-human living things, in terms of both general moral theory and policy formation. Moral standing, animal rights, obligations to future generations, pollution, hazardous materials, depletion of natural resources, treatment of non-human living things.

Special Topics in Urban Studies

- 3 credits
- No prerequisites; graduate students from any disciplinary background are welcome
- This course introduces students to the study of disasters, disaster risk reduction, and disaster resilience planning. It draws primarily from social science and planning literatures and considers related natural science and engineering dimensions. Some topics covered include: disaster impacts; conceptual frameworks; vulnerability of communities, people, businesses, and infrastructure; risk assessment, risk communication, and risk perception; disaster mitigation, response, and recovery; climate change adaptation; risk reduction technologies and resilience strategies.

The course deals a bit with concepts of disasters, risk, and resiliency, including in relation to climate change related events (slow and rapid onset).

Climate science and impacts including: carbon management options; mitigation and energy system changes; efficiency options; 'end-of-pipe' solutions; vulnerability and adaptation to climate change; carbon economics and organization-level strategies in a carbon-constrained world.

Interdisciplinary science of climate change and its impacts; options for mitigation and adaptation.

Explores topics in environmental sociology and a sociological approach to environmental problems, with an emphasis on the social inequality embedded in such problems. Environment and environmental problems are understood as actually existing sets of material conditions and, simultaneously, as social constructions; the outcomes of uneven social structures and historical forces. [3-0-0] Prerequisite: SOCI_O 111.

Global pandemics in relation to social inequality, social interaction and social institutions. 

These are still special topics courses and have yet to be proposed to the faculty senate, so they are not regular. It is joint upper-level undergraduates and MA/PhD students. We study the population causes and consequences of extreme weather-related disasters. We focus on population composition and structure; fertility; mortality; morbidity; and migration. No prerequisites are required, but prior work in social science (e.g., demography, economics, sociology, psychology, anthropology) are preferred. Prerequisite: One of SOCI 100, SOCI 101, SOCI 102.

Theory and practice of risk communication in public health, basic principles underlying effective science communication with peers, the media, and the public. 

Industrial hygiene and environmental exposure monitoring, methods, and instrumentation, and theory. Laboratories demonstrate workplace sampling and analysis techniques. Prerequisite: SPPH 535. Restricted to MSc OEH students only.

Online course. Restricted to Masters or Certificate programs in Global Surgical Care